Dubai says identified 15 new suspects in Mabhouh killing; some fled to Iran

Al Arabiya television says of new suspects, six had British identities, three held Irish passports, three were Australian, three French. 'Friendly nations indicated to police in Dubai that passports were issued in illegal, fraudulent manner,' emirate's government says

Dubai has identified 15 new suspects in the assassination of a senior Hamas figure
at a Dubai luxury hotel, bringing the total number of people believed involved in the death to 26, the government said on Wednesday.

Hamas commander Mahmoud al-Mabhouh was killed
last month in his hotel room in what Dubai police have said they are near certain was an Israeli hit. They said the killers travelled to the Gulf Arab emirate on European passports.

“In addition to the previously released list of 11 suspects, Dubai Police has now identified another six suspects who include a woman who used British passports, a man and three women travelling on Irish passports, two men who used French passports, and three people with Australian passports. The Australians included a woman," the Dubai government's media office said in an emailed statement.

Dubai police said some hit squad members fled to Iran
after the assassination.

The Dubai police released new security camera footage showing the suspects arriving at the local airport and in the hotel where the assassination took place.

Dubai authorities last week released the identities of 11 people whom they said travelled on fraudulent British, Irish, French and German passports to kill Mabhouh. Two Palestinians suspected of providing logistical support were in custody.

According to the al-Jazeera television network, members of the hit team arrived in Dubai from Munich, Rome, Paris, Milano and Hong Kong.

The government statement included the names of all 15 new suspects listed by passport country.

The Irish passports holders were named as Ivy Brinton, Anna Shuana Clasby and Chester Halvey.

The French passport holders are David Bernard LaPierre, Melenie Heard and Eric Rassineux, while the Australian passport holders were identified as Bruce Joshua Daniel, Nicole Sandra Mccabe and Adam Korman.

Anna Clasby's passport

"Friendly nations who have been assisting in this investigation have indicated to the police in Dubai that the passports were issued in an illegal and fraudulent manner," the statement said.

Dubai police also released passport photos and closed-circuit television footage of the suspects, and said two of them had left Dubai by boat for Iran.

According to the al-Arabiya network, Dubai police also released credit card details of some of the suspects. Many were issued by the same US bank, META.

Police believe more people could have been involved, the statement said.

The use of passports from European Union countries by the killers has drawn censure
from the bloc.

Dubai has accused Israel
of being behind the assassination, but the Israeli foreign minister has said there was no proof his country carried out the killing.